(LOT 94)
Babe Ruth Signing his 1927 Contract w/Ruppert & Barrow - PSA Type I Encapsulated Underwood & Underwood Photo - Measures Approx. 7" x 7"
The 1927 season would see the "Sultan of Swat" turn the baseball world upside down via his unfathomable 60 home runs as well as leading the Yankees to their dominating World Series 4-game sweep over the Pittsburgh Pirates. No doubt, entering the season, the Yankees front office were well aware that they would need to give the Babe a significant raise over his $52,000 1926 salary. Ultimately, that increase would be a substantial 35% hike, with Ruth signing for $70,000 per year for the next three seasons before the 1927 campaign commenced. This 1927 Underwood & Underwood Babe Ruth illustration portrays the great Bambino "signing his 1927 three-year contract", with legendary Yankees team owner Jacob Ruppert and General Manager Ed Barrow looking on.

Measuring approximately 7" x 7", the relatively clean black & white image exhibits sensational contrast and the finest possible clarity, with a few stray wrinkles rendered virtually negligible versus the overall brilliant aesthetics. The flipside reveals the critical Underwood & Underwood credit stamp and a written notation referring to the fact that Ruth is signing a 3-year $70,000/year contract with Ruppert and Barrow. Interestingly enough, when this monumental contract expired after the 1929 season, Babe Ruth would go on to sign his iconic 1930/1931 two-year contract for a record $80,000 per year.

Who could ever forget reporters questioning him about the fact that he was now making more money than the American President, Herbert Hoover. In typical Ruthian fashion, he quickly responded: "I had a better year than the President!", a comment prompted by the fact that America was buried in an epic depression during Herbert Hoover's tenure. A super neat keepsake, this exalted 1927 memento serves as a steadfast reminder of how Ruth led the 1927 Yankees to a monumental championship, with that New York club arguably regarded as our National Pastime's greatest team to ever grace a ballfield!

MIN BID $300
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